Suggestions for Grammar Stage Ancient India & Japan?

[amsunshine]

I'm preparing for my venture into SOTW Ancients with my dc, and am looking for suggestions on materials to use to supplement SOTW for ancient India and Japan. There seems to be a lot of material for ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt, China, etc., so I've got those other more commonly available areas covered, I think. I was hoping to also delve into these other countries and maybe one or two others with grammar stage level materials. Any recommendations?

[gratefulmother]

We love books, so our favorite supplements for any area we are studying are good stories. There are several good suggestions for supplemental reading in the SOTW Activity Guide if you have it.

[amsunshine]

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately, I am not using the activity guide with the main text -- I've heard wonderful things, but would rather invest the extra money in other supplemental materials, specific to different regions, if that makes sense? I'm doing a combination of History Odyssey and SOTW, so I have SOTW, Kingfisher, History Pockets, and lots of extra book suggestions for the main areas I mentioned before, such as Ancient Greece, Rome, China, etc. But my research for Ancient India, Ancient Japan and even Ancient Celts turns up rather sparse. I was hoping maybe some of you on this board had some extra suggestions for these less "popular" (for lack of a better term) areas. I'm not looking for anything comprehensive -- just maybe a book here or there that made a good impression, or an activity package that I might be missing? Or maybe there is just not a whole lot. I've searched Amazon, Rainbow Resource and these boards. Not coming up with a whole lot.:crying:

[Mommy22alyns]

We didn't have much supplemental reading in our foray into ancient India. I think we found a couple of adapted fables & folktales, but that was it.

[amsunshine]

That's what I'm finding, too. I have a child's story of Siddartha's life, another fiction story about Sivitri (sp), and another about Divaali (sp?) For Japan, I'm not finding much, and for Celts, I'm finding mostly Middle Ages material. It could be that this is it, as far as material for younger children goes. Oh well.

[swellmomma]

I am stepping out in about 2 minutes here, but when I get back later I can tell you the books I have collected thus far for India. Japan doesn't look like it comes up until SOTW2, as I was jsut flipping through that chapter to compile my list of books for next year, I can let you know later as well what was suggested. I know you want to use money to buy more supplemental books, but the AG is great, with student pages, mapwork, crafts, activities and book lists it is more than worth the relatively small amount of money you will spend to get it.

[Michele B]

We love it when India comes around in SOTW! We go to an Indian restaurant which is a complete sensory experience! The art and smells and of course the food!! The last time we looked at India, the children listened to The Brahmin and the Tiger by Rabbit Ears Radio while they ate an Indian frozen dinner. We also have a museum an hour or so away with an Indian collection. If nothing else, I strongly encourage you to give the Indian lunch buffet a try!

[Carol in Cal.]

I believe that although they were written down by Kipling that they are actually older fairy tales from India. In any case, they are easy and entertaining.

There is a beautiful picture book called One Grain of Rice that has Indian-style illustrations that DD really enjoyed at that age.

For Japan, see if you can find "The Sea of Gold, and other tales from Japan" by Yoshiko Uchida in your library. It has fairly simple retellings of Japanese fairy tales, with illustrations that look like woodcuts. I think it is OOP, though. Also, from an art standpoint, the 100 views of Mount Fuji are an excellent jumping off point for talking about how artists work within limits, and how a natural vista can be inspiriting enough for a lot of different kinds of work. "A Whack on the Side of the Head" has examples of many different kinds of poetry, accessible even for young children, and haiku is included. Since it does not rhyme, and since each is so short, it's a good 'starting form' for a child to attempt some poetry writing of her own as well. (All this, and they learn to count syllables, too!)

[Sahamamama]

An Illustrated History of Japan, by Shigeo Nishimura

http://www.amazon.com/Illustrated-History-Japan-Shigeo-Nishimura/dp/0804836701/ref=pd_sim_b_3 (http://www.amazon.com/Illustrated-History-Japan-Shigeo-Nishimura/dp/0804836701/ref=pd_sim_b_3)

Step into Ancient Japan, by Fiona MacDonald (Step Into Series)

http://www.amazon.com/Step-Into-Ancient-Japan-Into/dp/185967917X

Swords and Samurai: The Ancient Warrior Culture of the East, by Phillip Steele

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1842159542/ref=cm_cr_asin_lnk

How to Be a Samurai Warrior, by Fiona MacDonald

http://www.amazon.com/How-Samurai-Warrior-Fiona-Macdonald/dp/1426301359/ref=pd_sim_b_4

Tea Ceremony: Asian Arts and Crafts for Creative Kids, by Shozo Sato

http://www.amazon.com/Ceremony-Asian-Arts-Crafts-Creative/dp/0804835004/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b

Haiku: Asian Arts and Crafts for Creative Kids, by Patricia Donegan

http://www.amazon.com/Haiku-Asian-Arts-Crafts-Creative/dp/0804835012/ref=pd_sim_b_5

Asian Kites: Asian Arts and Crafts for Creative Kids, by Wayne Hosking

http://www.amazon.com/Asian-Kites-Arts-Crafts-Creative/dp/0804835454/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_c

Origami: Asian Arts and Crafts for Creative Kids, by Michael LaFosse

http://www.amazon.com/Origami-Activities-Asian-Crafts-Creative/dp/0804834970/ref=pd_sim_b_5

Japanese Children's Favorite Stories, ed. by Florence Sakade (there are 2 volumes)

http://www.amazon.com/Japanese-Childrens-Favorite-Stories-Florence/dp/0804837171/ref=pd_sim_b_1 (http://www.amazon.com/Japanese-Childrens-Favorite-Stories-Florence/dp/0804837171/ref=pd_sim_b_1)

[mcconnellboys]

Ancient India:

Rama and the Demon King
Monkey Bridge
Just So Stories
Jataka Tales
Take a Trip to India
Tiger and the Brahim
Blue Jackal
Seven Blind Mice
Magic Cooking Pot
Gifts of the Wali Dad
The Prince Who Ran Away
Buddha, Demi
The Prince Who Became a Beggar
The Cat who Went to Heaven
Our Most Dear Friend
On Grain of Rice
Fat Gopal
The Sacred River
Prince Siddhartha: The Story of Buddha
India, Countries of the World, Dahl
Buddha Stories, Demi
The Ringdoves

Ancient Japan:

The Ancient Japanese, Odjik
Sho and the Demons of the Deep
Exploration into Japan

How about Australia and Oceania?

The Biggest Frog in Australia
Exploration into Australia
Wandering Girl
The Flying Emu and other Australian Stories
The Giant Devil Dingo
Tales Told to Kabbarli: Aboriginal Legends
The Aboriginal People of Australia
Rainbowbird: An Aboriginal Folktale
Rainbow Serpent
Waltzing Matilda
The Woman on the Moon
Kon-Tiki

Africa???

[swellmomma]

I bought a series of books by scholastic called People of the ancient world. I have india, inca, maya, ku****es, mesopotamia, vikings and celts, there is several more in the series I need to still buy.

Little brown Jay (India)
I have just so stories but didn't know they were from india, good to know so I will add that to our reading.

Ancient Isrealites and their neighbors, does not help with India, but gives great ideas for studying the philistines, phoenicians and isrealites.

[Crimson Wife]

A lot of the resources out there for those civilizations may be rather advanced for the average early grammar stage child. Most students in traditional schools don't study ancient history until 6th grade so that seems to be the target age for many materials on the subject.

Teacher Created Resources has thematic units available for both Ancient India (http://www.buyteachercreated.com/estore/product/0577) and Ancient Japan (http://www.buyteachercreated.com/estore/product/0579).

Kids Discover magazine has issues available for both Ancient India (http://www.kidsdiscover.com/go/?product/129) and Samurai (http://www.kidsdiscover.com/go/?product/147).

Calliope magazine has issues available for the Indus Valley civilizations (http://www.cobblestonepub.com/book/CAL0801.html), the Guptas of India (http://www.cobblestonepub.com/issue/CAL0211.html?z=7.5156306266785), Ashoka of India (http://www.cobblestonepub.com/book/CAL0001.html), Medieval Japan (http://www.cobblestonepub.com/book/CAL0601.html), Samurai (http://www.cobblestonepub.com/book/CAL9301.html), Children in Ancient Japan (http://www.cobblestonepub.com/issue/APP0601.html?z=7.9323152542114), and the Ancient Celts (http://www.cobblestonepub.com/book/CAL0111.html).

Learning Through History magazine has an issue on Medieval Japan (http://www.learningthroughhistory.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=H&Product_Code=SI-16).

[amsunshine]

Oh -- thanks sooo much for all the suggestions -- I'm printing out everything to take to my library. I agree that a lot of the options about ancient world history appear to be geared toward the older student, which was part of my frustration, in addition to the fact that some items were either oop or not released yet. Also, some of the items about Japan, for example, materials about the samurai, tea ceremonies, origami, etc., all seem to have origins in the middle ages, so I had ruled a lot of those things out. Love the suggestions for Australia, too -- I will definitely look into those! Thank you!!! :)

[Kate in Arabia]

For India, in addition to the books, I found a mandala design drawing machine like this one that my kids love to play with:

http://www.amazon.com/Ravensburger-JA015-003-Mandala-Designer-drawing/dp/B0006NM9R8/ref=pd_bbs_sr_8?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1228817165&sr=8-8

With Japan, you might try making marbled paper, here's the wiki page on its early history in Japan:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marbled_paper

Here's a method for making marbled paper with shaving cream that might be easier for youngers:

http://kidscrafts.suite101.com/article.cfm/kids_craft_marbled_paper

With China, we like to practice our Chinese calligraphy. We use this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Long-Dragon-Chinese-Writing-Children/dp/1881896013/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228817564&sr=1-1

...and I bought materials from a local store here that carries items from China/Japan; they had "real" calligraphic materials -- ink blocks, brushes, a mat you put your paper on along with a metal bar to weight the paper. It really made a difference in how well my kids enjoyed it, I think.

hth!

[Sahamamama]

I bought a series of books by scholastic called People of the ancient world. I have india, inca, maya, ku****es, mesopotamia, vikings and celts, there is several more in the series I need to still buy.


Okay, I admit it. I've been sitting here, trying and trying to figure out who in the world you meant by "Ancient Ku****es," and THEN even after I figured out that it's this:

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?r=1&ISBN=9780531123805&ourl=The%2DAncient%2DKu****es%2FLiz%2DSonneborn

I still had to think and think, now why are there four asteriks in that word?

Someone say, "Duh."

[nmoira]

Here's a thread with ancient India resources (http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40605&). We didn't do anything for Japan in ancients.

[kalanamak]

I still had to think and think, now why are there four asteriks in that word?



I still don't know why. Analysis gets by, titillation gets by, spicing gets by, why not ku****es?

:confused1: